Target: All inpatient & surgical patients (high-quality devices & sterile trays).
Traceability: High-risk infectious diseases (e.g., AIDS, CJD) via instrument tracking linked to patient records.
The Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD) is an integral part of the hospital's infection control network. Guided by our core service values—Creative, Smart, Safe, and Do Our Best (CSSD)—we aim to rigorously implement infection control and enhance surgical safety. Positioned as an "intellectually innovative and industry-leading" department, we dedicate our utmost efforts to safeguarding the safety of both patients and staff.
Three Major Features & Six Core Innovations
Pioneered an Intelligent Surgical Instrument Tracking & Management System: Created a comprehensive provenance and traceability network. By adapting food-safety tracking concepts to medical devices, 100% of the reprocessing workflows are fully auditable, thereby guaranteeing absolute patient safety.
Taiwan’s First to Implement Rigorous Cleaning Verification: Successfully executed a two-stage washing protocol combining manual scrubbing and automated mechanical washing, ensuring uncompromised quality assurance.
Innovative Ergo-Safety Designs to Prevent Occupational Injuries: Self-developed the "Anti-Needlestick Instrument Stand," the "ALL SAFE Suture Pack," and designed the "Protective Instrument Shield." Furthermore, we minimized physical strain by reducing instrument tray weights, utilizing instrument transfer lifters, and designing a multi-in-one ergonomic assembly desk, thereby safeguarding staff health and safety.
Instrument Washer Cycles (By Year): 2015: 8,593 + 14,555 cycles
2016: 17,437 + 23,656 cycles
2017: 26,736 + 26,516 cycles
2018: 29,992 + 30,288 cycles
Instrument Assembly Volume (Pieces by Year): 2015: 440,937 pcs | 2016: 449,926 pcs | 2017: 471,262 pcs | 2018: 497,041 pcs
High-Temperature Sterilization Cycles: 2015: 23,253 cycles | 2016: 24,121 cycles | 2017: 24,478 cycles | 2018: 26,075 cycles
Low-Temperature Sterilization Cycles: 2015: 2,450 cycles | 2016: 2,700 cycles | 2017: 3,013 cycles | 2018: 3,910 cycles
Our instrument repackaging error rate stands at an exceptionally low 0.08%, significantly outperforming global benchmarks.
Published a total of 9 academic papers, a track record far exceeding international averages.
ATP Cleaning Verification Failure Rate: Decreased from 0.83% in 2017 to 0.63% in 2018
Zero Single-Use Device (SUD) Reprocessing: We strictly enforce a policy where all single-use medical devices are never re-sterilized or reused.
Flawless Sterilization Monitoring: Every single sterilization load undergoes rigorous mechanical, chemical, and biological monitoring before release. We have maintained a perfect record of zero positive cultures, meaning no instrument has ever required a recall for reprocessing.
Proactive Microbiological Sampling: Regular microbiological audits are conducted on both freshly sterilized instruments and storage inventory; zero positive microbial samples have ever been detected.
Instrument Cleanness: Pass rate is 96.24%.
Set Assembly Accuracy: Accuracy rate is 99.93%.
Sterilization Pass Rate: Total pass rate is 99.62%.
Clinical Satisfaction: Staff satisfaction is 96.6%.
Prestigious International Award: Honored with the "CSSD Center of Excellence" Award by the Asia Pacific Society of Infection Control (APSIC) in 2018 (Year 107).
Globally Certified Leadership: The director of our CSSD holds professional, internationally recognized credentials for CSSD management.
Advanced Global Training: 1 staff member obtained the German CSSD Management Certificate, and 3 staff members participated in advanced workshops on instrument processing and sterilization quality in the United States, Germany, and Malaysia.
Industry Contribution & Knowledge Sharing: Collaborated with various professional societies and associations to lecture at healthcare institutions domestically and internationally. We have successfully provided training for 94 personnel, including domestic and international infection control professionals, OR nurses, and CSSD staff.
8 staff members successfully obtained the "Completion Certificate for the CSSD Management Training Workshop" hosted by the Taiwan Perioperative Nurses Association.
Established a structured CSSD education and training system within the hospital, with 33 staff members certified to date.
